Intermittent feed mechanism



Oct. 29, 1935. A. s; HOWELL 2,019,261

l INTERMITTENT FEED MECHANISM Filed June 22, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l Oct.29, 1935. A. s. HOWELL INTERMITTENT FEED MECHANISM Filed June 22, 1933 3Sheets-Sheet 2 A* S. HOWELL INTERMITTENT FEED MECHANISM Oct. 29, 1935.

3 Sheets-Sheet C5 Filed June 22, 1933 Patented Oct. 29, 1935 'FEEDMECHANISM Albert S. Howell, Chicago, Ill., assigner to The Bell & HowellCompany, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application June zz,1933, serial No. 77,035 s claims. (cl. :xs-1&4)

My invention relates particularly to intermitent feed mechanism forprogressively exposing notion picture film strips in motion picturecameras, although not limited to this use alone.

'I'he general object of the invention resides in he provision of a noveland eective intermittent eed mechanism which is particularly adapted ormotion picture cameras, all with a. view to- Yard convenience andprecision in operation.

With this object in view my invention consists n certain features ofnovelty in the construction, ombination and arrangement of parts bywhich he said object and certain other objects, hereinfter appearing,are effected, allas fully described 'ith reference to the accompanyingdrawings and l1;ire particularly pointed out in the appended In the saiddrawings- Flgure l is a partial interior view in side eleva- ,on of amotion picture camera embodying my ivention;

Figure 2. is a partial section taken substantially n the line 2-2 ofFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a partial interior view in front eleition;

Figure 4 is a partial section taken substantially i the line #-4 ofFigure 1;

Figure-51s a partial section taken substantially 1 the line 5 5 ofFigure 3; and Figure 6 is a rear face view of the film guide of lemechanism. Like characters of reference indicate like parts the severalviews. Referringyto the drawings, I designates a main ame of ',thecamera mechanism which is proded with a laterally extending verticalportion at the front of the film chamber of the camera ld apertured, as'designated at 3, on the focal is of the camera. See Figures l and 2.'Ihis laterally extending portion 2 is provided at rear face withvertically spaced opposing later'- Iy extending parallel slides 4 inwhich upper .d lower ends of a second frame 5 are slidably gaged for theremovable mounting of the frame in the camera, the frame 5 beingreleasably :ured in its mounted position, relative to the rtion 2, by'areleasable latch device generally licated at 6 in Figure 1.

Ihe main portion of the frame 5 is disposed ailarly with the portion 2of the main frame d is provided with an intermediate opening 1 ,bracingthe focal axis of the camera. See Fig- :s 3 to 5,.

lssociated with the opening I and disposed 'respondingly with the planethereof, is a vertical fllm guide 8 comprising a main or front faceportion 9 provided with an exposure aperture II. and verticallyextending rear guide portions I2 at the vertical side edge portions ofthe guide and formed integrally therewith to provide channels for theguidance of a film I3 through the guide, the guide portions being spacedfrom each other whereby the center portion of thev rear face portion ofthe guides is open throughout its length for the insertion and removalof a film by curving 10 the film on a longitudinal axis to engage anddisengage the lm with the side channels of the guide. See Figures 4, 5and 6. f

A rocker lever I I is pivotally mounted on the frame 5 in the lowerportion of theopening l 15 below the guide 8 by means of opposingbearings I5 disposed on an axis extending correspondingly withthe planeof the guide 8 and transverse to the movement of the film in the guide,and com- 1 prises a pair of spaced correspondingly extend- 20 ing armsI6 extending adjacent opposite side edges of the guide and pivotallyconnected therewith on a common axis by means of bearings I1. See Figure3.

A second rocker lever I8 is pivotally mounted 25 on the frame 5 in theinside portion of the opening 1 at the inside of the guide 8 by means ofa spring clip I9 secured to the frame 5 and provided With verticallyspaced spring portions 2| engaging and rearwardly urging the main por-30 tion of the rocker lever I8 against a vertical transverse forwardlyfacing surface 22 of the frame 5. See Figures 3 and 4.

'The rocker lever I8 is thus mounted for pivotal movement on an axisextending correspond-35 ingly with the plane of the guide 8 and longi--tudinally of the movementA of the film in the guide, and comprises apair of 'spacedcorrespondingly extending arms 23 extending adjacentopposite end edges of the guide and piv- 4 movement of the guide on thepivotal axis of one rocker lever with reference to the otherrockerlle'ver is accommodated by the slippage 5o of the' rocker le'verI8 upon the bearing surface 22; Disposed at theinside of the framewS androtatably mounted on the frame-I on a horizontal axis normal tp theplaneo: ymeI guidejagis a( revoluble shaft 25"wl 1ich`carriesjac'axn-member as 28 in fixed relation therewith. See Figures 2and 3.

'I'he inner arm i8 of the rocker lever I4 carries an inwardly projectingstud 21 at its upper or free end, and a roller 28 of part spherical formis mounted on the inner end of the stud 21 for rotation and limitedaxial movement. A

compression spring 29 on the stud yieldably urges the roller 28 inwardlyinto engagement with an axial cam groove 8| of corresponding partspherical form on the cam member 28, so that the guide 8 is reciprocatedfacewise with rotation of the cam member.

'I'he front face of the frame 8 is provided with alined verticallyextending recesses 82 above and below the opening 1 and disposed in theregion of the inner side portion of the guide 8. See Figures 2, 3 and 4.A vertically extending shuttle bar 88 extends across the opening 1 andinto the recesses 32 and is mounted for vertical reciprocationlongitudinally of the guide 8 by means of its rear face slidablyengaging the bottom of the recesses 82 and its front face slidablyengaging the rear face of a plate 34 secured on the front face of theframe 8 and laterally spaced pairs of rollers 88 above and below theopening 1 and rotatably mounted on the frame 8 and engaging oppositesides of the shuttle bar.

'Ihe shutter bar is disposed in front of the guide 8 and is alined withthe usual marginal longitudinally spaced perforations of the film |8 inthe guide, and Iis provided with a rearwardly projecting feed pin 88adapted to project through a vertically elongated opening 31 in thefront face portion of the guide 8 to engage the aforesaid perforationsof the illm in the guide for feeding the same.

A laterally extending cam actuated lever 88 is pivotally mounted at oneend, as designated at 88, see Figures 2 and 3, on an axis disposedparallel to that of the cam member 28 and disposed on the side of thecam member opposite that on which the frame 8 and the guide 8 andshuttle bar88 are disposed. 'I'he lever 88 is provided at itsintermediate portion with an `opening 4| providing vertically spacedopposing parallel surfaces 42 oppositely engaging a radial cam 48 on-the cam member 28 for oscillating the lever 88 with rotation of the cammember.

The other end of the lever 88 is provided with a bearing formation 88which is engaged for sliding and pivotal movement between two verticallyspaced laterally projecting lugs 48 on the intermediate portion of theshuttle bar 88 to reciprocate the shuttle bar with rotation of the cammember 28 in timed relation with facewise reciprocation of the guide 8as effected by the cam groove 8|.

'I'he timingof the cam groove 8| and the cam 48 is such that the guide 8is positioned forwardly to engage the feed pin 88 of the shuttle bar f88 with a perforation of the film in the guide frs frame 8 and the partsmay be conveniently installed in and removed from the camera.

The1m|8isfedtoandfromtheguide8 by means of a constantfllm feedinggenerallyindicated at 44, and disposed in the camera to the rear of theframe 8 and driven in timed relation with the cam member 28 by mechanismunnecessary to be described. See Figure l. v

The plate 84 is provided with an aperture 48 alined with the exposureaperture of the guide 8 and a usual segmental light shutter 48 is xed onthe shaft 28 and operates in a plane in front of the plate 84 tointermittentLv cut of the exposure light from the illm in the guide intimed relation with the intermittent feeding of the film in the guide asis usual for the photographing of motion pictures.

A lm face'engaging member 41 is disposed at the rear of the frame 8 andis pivotally mounted at its lower endas designated at 48, on the lowerend of the frame 8 on a horizontal axis extending correspondinglywithlthe plane of the guide 8. See Figures 1 and 3. i

'I'he upper end of the member 41 is thus movable forwardly andrearwardly relative to the frame 8 and guide 8, and the upper end of themember 41 is provided with a forwardly facing nlm face engagingstructure 48 alined with the exposure aperture Il of the guide andengageable with a film in the guide through the aforesaid centralopening in the rear of the guide. f

'I'he member 41 is releasably secured in its forward position by meansof a releasable spring latch lever 8| on the upper endv of the member 41and engaging a slotted block 82 on the frame 8 to maintain a stop 88 onthe upper end of the member 41 forwardly engaged against the frame 8.SeeFigures2and5.

In the forward position-of the member 41, the front face of the nlm faceengaging structure 48 is disposed to be engaged by the rear face of thenim in the guide at the exposure aperture Il when the guide 8 is in itsrearward position to provide a support for the film at the exposureaperture during exposure, the lm being exposed `when the guide is in itsrearward position.

By releasing the latch lever 8| from the block 82 the member 41 may bepositioned rearwardly, as shown in broken lines in Figure l, so that thefilm may be conveniently inserted in and removed from the guide.

Mounted onthe upper, end of the member 4 is 'a pair of forwardlyfprojecting laterally spaced stationary pilot pins 84 which are adaptedto project through apertures 88 in the im guide and engage perforationsof a film in the guide in alternation with the feed pin 88 as the guide8 is facewise reciprocated, see Figures 3, 4 and 8, the arrangementbeing such that in the forward position of the guide, the feed pin 88 isengaged with the lm to intermittently feed the same and in the rearwardor exposure position of the guide, the pilot pins 84 are engaged withthe fllm to register the nlm during its rest or exposure'period.

Having-thus described my invention, I do not wish to be limited to theprecise details described as changes may be readily made withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention, but

having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent the following:

1. In a device of the character described the combination of arearwardly open lm guide having its front face portion provided with anexposure aperture, means for intermittently feeding a perforated film insaid guide including means for facewise reciprocating said guide, a filmface engaging member at the rear of a film in said guide and adapted forengagement by the film at 'said exposure aperture in the rearwardposition of said guide, and means for positioning said film faceengaging member in a forward film engaging position and adapted topermit the 'movement thereof rearwardly out of said position.

2. In a device of the character described the combination-of a filmguide having its front face portion provided with anv exposure apertureand having the center portion of its rear face portion open throughoutits length, means for intermittently feeding a perforated film in saidguide including a reciprocating film feed shuttle in front of said guideand provided with a rearwardly projecting feed pin and means forfacewise reciprocating said guide in timed relation with reciprocationof said shuttle, a film face engaging member at the rear of the film insaid guide and adapted for engagement by the film at said exposureaperture in the rearward position of said guide, means for positioningsaid film face engaging member in a forward film engaging position andadapted to permit the movement thereof rearwardly for removal andinsertion of the film, and at least one stationary pilot pin on saidfilm`face engaging member engageable with perforatlons of the film inalternation with said feed pin as the film is intermittently fed.

3. In a device of the character described the combination of a vframemember provided with an opening, a rearwardly open film guide associatedwith said opening and-disposed correspondingly with the plane thereofand having its front face provided with an exposure aperture, meansonsaid frame member' and associated with said opening thereof forcarrying said guide for facewise movement, means for intermittentlyfeeding a perforated film in said' guide including a leed shuttleextending across said frame openlng in front of said guide and mountedon said frame on opposite sides of said frame opening for reciprocatingmovement and means for facewise reciprocating said guide in timedrelation with reciprocation of said shuttle, a film face engaging memberat the rear of a film in said guide and adapted for-engagement by thefilm it said exposure aperture in the rearward posi- :ion of said guideandmounted for movement rearwardly of said film engaging position, andneans for`releasably positioning said film en- :aging member in its filmengaging position.

4. In a device-of the character described the :ombination of a framemember provided with in opening, a lm guide associated with 'said'mening` and disposed correspondingly with the :lane thereof and havingits front face provided vith an exposure aperture and having the centerxortion of its rear face portion-open throughout tsv length, means onsaid frame member and issociated with said opening thereof vfor carryingaid guide for facewise movement, means for n timed relation withreciprocation of said shuttle, a film face engaging member at the rearof a film in said guide and adapted for engagement by the film at saidexposure aperture in the rearward position of said guide and mounted formovement rearwardly of said film engaging posi- `5 tion, means forreleasably positioning said film engaging member in its film engagingposition, and at least one forwardly projecting stationary pilot pin onsaid film engaging member engageable with perforations of thev film inalternation l with said feed pin as the film is intermittently` fed.

5. In a device of the character described the combination of a framemember provided with an opening, a film guide associated with said lopening and disposed correspondingly with the plane thereof and havingits front face portion provided with an exposure opening, means on saidframe member for carrying said guide for facewise movement, and meansfor intermittently l0 feeding a perforated film in said guide includinga feed shuttle extending across said frame opening in front Aof saidguide and mounted on said frame on opposite sides of said opening forreciprocating movement and means for facewise reciprocating said guidein timed relation with reciprocation of said shuttle.

6. In "a device of the character described the combination of a framemember provided with an opening, a film guide associatedwith said 80opening and disposed correspondingly with the plane thereof and havingits front face portion provided with an exposure opening, means on saidframe member and associated with said opening for carrying said guidefor facewise movement including an arm pivoted on said frame on an axistransverse to the guide and extending correspondingly with the planethereof, a feed shuttle extending across said frame opening in front ofsaid guide and mounted on said frame on opposite sides of said openingfor reciprocating movement, two coaxial angularly fixed revoluble camsat one side of said guide, means for reciprocating said shuttle from oneof said cams, and a cam follower on said arm and engaged with the otherof said cams for facewise reciprocating said guide.

7. In a device of the character described the combination of a framemember provided with an opening, a film guide associated. with s'aid 50opening and disposed correspondinglygwith the plane thereof V'and havingits front face portion provided with an exposure opening, two rockerlevers plvotally mounted on said frame member in said opening with theiraxes at a right angle 66 and extendingcorrespondingly with the guide,each rocker lever comprising a pair of spaced correspondinglyI extendingarms extending adjacent opposite edges of the guide and pivotallyconnected therewith on a common axis for facewise 00 movement of theguide, a feed shuttle extending across said frame opening in front ofsaid guide and mounted on said frame on opposite sides of said openingfor reciprocating movement, two coaxial angularly fixed revoluble camsdisposed 63 at one side of said guide on an axis normal to the planethereof and comprising a radial cam and an axial cam, 4a pivoted leverengaged with said radial cam and having a sliding and pivotal operativeconnection with said shuttle for reciprocating the same, and a camfollower on an arm of one of said rock levers and engaged with saidaxial cam for facewise reciprocating said guide in timed relation lwithreciprocation o f said shuttle. v

8. In a device of the character described the combination of a nlmfeed'guide, of two pivotaliy mounted rocker levers disposed with theirpivotal axes at a right angle and extending correspondingiy with theplane o! the guide, and each rocker lever comprising a pair oi spacedcorrespondingly extending arms extending adjacent opposite edges of theguide and pivotally connected therewith on a common axis for facewisemovement of the guide.

9. In a device of the character described the combination o! a nlmguide. of two pivotally mounted rocker levers disposed with theirpivotal axes at a. right angle and extending correspondingly with theplane of theguide, each rocker lever comprising a pair of spacedcorrespondingly extending arms extendingadjacent opposite edges of theguide and pivotally connected therewith cna common raxis for facewisemovement of the guide, a revoluhie cam at one side of the guide, and acam follower on the adjacent rock lever arm and engaged with said cam.

ALBERT S. HOWELL.

